Undergraduate Institution and Major/Degree:

Major Advisor(s):

Research Description:

The Zirpel lab aims to describe what characteristics define neurons that are within a critical period versus beyond a critical period of development. Specifically, auditory neurons depend on activity for survival during a critical period early in their development. Our goal is to determine what is unique about neurons during the critical period that allow for their susceptibility to death upon removal of afferent activity or deafferentation. The first aim of my thesis is to describe how the transcription factor NFAT (nuclear factor of activated T-cells) plays a role in deafferentation-induced death of auditory neurons during this critical period.

In the Mermelstein lab I am interested in determining what molecular mechanism/s underlie the neuroprotective effects of progesterone. Progesterone has proven to be useful as a therapy following traumatic brain injury, however, it is unclear how progesterone exerts its neuroprotective effects.